The Seven Seals 
OPENED 

George W. McCalla 



Class __M_<L£i 

Book J:i2 

Copyright N° ^_ 



THE 

Seven Seals 



An Interpretation of Rev. v-viii 

IN WHICH 

The Opening of the Seven Seals 

ARE SHOWN TO SET FORTH 

The Believer's Progress and Development 

IN 




THE CHRIST-LIFE 



BY 



GEORGE W. McCAELA 



•IB 




PHILADELPHIA 
George W. McCalla 



N. W. Cor. 18th and Ridge Ave. 



1899 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Gopies Received 

NOV 17 1906 

, Copyright Entry 
CUSS XXc, 

///a o . 

COPY B. 



Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1899, by 
Geo. W. McCalla, in the office of the Librarian 
of Congress, at Washington, D C 



CONTENTS. 



I. PAGE. 

Introductory 5 

II. 

The First Seal 10 

III, 

The Second Seal . 15 

IV. 

The Third Seal 20 

V. 

The Fourth Seal . ...... 26 

VI. 

The Fifth Seal 31 

VII. 

The Sixth Seal 37 

VIII. 

The Sixth Seal— Continued 42' 

IX. 

The Seventh Seal ....».» ........ 49 



TO THE READER. 
TF the exposition herein given, concerning the 



x opening of the Seven Seals, shall serve in 
any measure to shed light upon the path which 
leads to the attaining of "the stature of the ful- 
ness of Christ," and shall encourage those who 
have entered upon such a course, to press forward 
with renewed diligence toward this prize, it will 
not have failed in accomplishing the purpose for 
which it is sent forth (Isa. lv : n). 

"God is faithful, by whom you were called 
unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our 
Lord" (i Cor. i : 9). — Author. 



THE 



Seven Seals Opened. 



And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the 
throne a book written within and on the back side, sealed 
with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with 
a loud voice: Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose 
the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, 
neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither 
to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was 
found worthy to open, and to read the book, neither to look 
thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me : Weep not; 
behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, 
hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals 
thereof. — Rev. v : 1-5. 



>HE words recorded in Psalm xl : 7, "In the 



volume of the book it is written of me" 
are almost universally accepted, as having refer- 
ence to Christ. In fact, the Old Testament is 
full of testimony setting forth the life and char- 
acter of Him who was to come. In Psalm 
cxxxix: 16, we read: "In thy book all my 



CHAPTER I. 



Introductory . 




6 



members were written .... when as yet there 
were none of them." Turning to the New 
Testament, we find on record in i Cor. xii: 27, 
that the church is the body of Christ, and those 
who compose it, members in particular. In Col. 
i: 18, that Christ is the head of the body, the 
church; and in Eph. i: 23, that the church is 
his body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in 
all; while Eph. iv: 4, declares that there is but 
"one body." If, therefore, the words found in 
Psalm xl: 7, have reference to Christ, the head, 
then the words found in Psalm cxxxix: 16, refer 
to all true believers who are viembers in particu- 
lar of the "one body." 

It will be our aim in that we may write 
concerning the opening of these seals, to inter- 
pret them as they refer to the unfolding of spir- 
itual light and life in those who are members of 
Christ's body, and not as their opening may have 
to do with any less personal or outward dispensa- 
tion. Experience demonstrates that the "Book 
of. Life" is indeed sealed, and only opens as we 
"follow on to know" the Lord — that the open- 
ings of Truth are gradual, and not instantaneous; 
for it has been rightly ordained that the knowl- 
edge of true doctrine is to be the fruit of doing 
His will, the result of experience, not mere 
theory, or speculation. 



7 



There are seven seals mentioned. Concern- 
ing the spiritual significance of the number 
seven, it will suffice at this time to say, that it 
denotes holiness, or that condition denominated 
the "Sabbath of Rest, 1 ' which remains for those 
who having followed the Lord in the regenera- 
tion, have been brought to the end of their own 
willing and doing, and so, to rest in Him. As 
in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, 
and on the seventh day he rested, and was re- 
freshed (Ex. xxxi: 17), so in the spiritual crea- 
tion, or work of regeneration, there are six days 
in which man may work, but if he ever entereth 
into the seventh — the rest Day — it will only be 
when he ceaseth from his ozvn works, even as 
God did from His. When this is brought to 
pass, and God alone worketh in him, both to will 
and to do, according to His own good pleasure, 
time, and manner; then can man know it, and 
not until then. 

So with the opening of the seven seals ; we 
may know the first six opened, but so long as the 
seventh remains unopened, there is one thing 
lacking and needful, for until this last which 
ushers in the Day of God is opened to us, and 
"the day dawn and day star arise in our hearts," 
we are ever in danger of walking in the sparks 
of our own kindling, and of falling into the sin 



8 



of those who, forsaking- the fountain of living 
waters, hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, 
that could hold no water (Jer. ii : 13). 

lk The God of this world hath blinded the 
minds of them which believe not, lest the light 
of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the im- 
age of God, should shine unto them." This is 
true concerning all in an unregenerate condition, 
who are, in a spiritual sense, like unto the man 
"which was blind from his birth," for no man is 
able in his natural condition, either to open the 
Book of Life, or to look therein, because of that 
spiritual blindness, which sin has entailed upon 
him. But when a desire to arise and go unto 
the Father has been begotten by the Spirit of 
Grace, which in its first breathings, is like unto 
a light shining in a dark place; then he first be- 
gins to realize that he is wretched, miserable, 
poor, and blind, and weeps because of his con- 
scious unworthiness and helplessness, either to 
open, read, or look upon the Book. It is while 
thus distressed, that he cries with one of old : 
"Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy upon 
me," and to the inquiry : "What wilt thou that 
I should do unto thee?" answers: "Lord, that I 
might receive my sight." For though like the 
Eunuch, he may have the Scriptures ready at 
hand, yet he cannot understand or open them, 



9 



except he have a Guide. It is after this period 
of weeping and godly sorrow, on account of his 
sin, that the Spirit's voice is heard, saying: 
"Weep not; behold the lion of the Tribe of Juda, 
the root of David, hath prevailed to open the 
book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." 



CHAPTER II. 



And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I 
heard, as it were, the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts 
saying : Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white 
horse; and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was 
given unto him : and he went forth conquering and to con- 
quer. — Rev. vi : I, 2. 



B will now consider the opening of the 



* first seal, as it sets forth the beginning of 
the soul's progress in the work of regeneration. 
Opening of blind eyes, and unstopping of deaf 
ears, are experienced at the first unfolding of 
Divine Truth. Hence, the declaration : "I saw 
when the Lamb opened one of the seals ; and / 
heard" But the opening of the eyes to see, 
and ears to hear the Truth, is not at first pleas- 
ant, but rather grievous, for it is accompanied 
with a revelation of duties to be performed, and 
laws to be obeyed, that are anything else but 
pleasing to the will of the flesh. 

The first sentence heard, is u Come and 
see." Obedience to this call implies, separation, 
the breaking away from present associations — 



The First Seal. 




1 1 



readiness to leave all, and follow the Lord. 
When John's disciples, in answer to the query 
of Jesus: "What seek ye?" replied: "Rabbi, 
where dwellest thou?" His answer was: " Come 
and see." So now, there is no other way to 
knowledge, but through following on to know, 
for our Lord declared: "Whosoever doth not 
bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my 
disciple," It is not until the prodigal (having 
resolved to go unto his father, and confess his 
sin), is on his way homeward, that his father 
runs to meet him, and bestows his kiss of for- 
giveness and welcome (Luke xv : 11-21). 

The Voice that here speaks, is as " the noise 
of thunder" because it denotes the beginning of 
judgment; for the work of the Spirit (when it 
comes to lead into all Truth) is first of all to con- 
vince of sin, of righteousness, and of coming 
judgment (Jno. xvi : 8), for "Zion shall be re- 
deemed with judgment, and her converts with 
righteousness. " 

A u horse" denotes swiftness. "Hesendeth 
forth his commandments upon earth : his Word 
ntnneth very swiftly." A ^ white horse" de- 
notes the righteousness and strength of the 
"Word of God," for he that sat upon the "white 
horse" was called "Faithful and true, and in 
righteousness he doth judge and make war." It 



12 



is through the "faithful and true" testimony of 
the "Word of God," concerning the holiness of 
God, and the righteousness of his Law, that the 
soul is led to exclaim : " I have heard of Thee 
by the hearing of the ear : but now mine eye 
seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and re- 
pent in dust and ashes." 

u He that sat on him had a bow" and truly 
to every one convinced of sin, it appeareth as 
though "He hath bent his bow, like an enemy," 
for his arrows of conviction, stick fast in the 
heart, until the love of sin has been wounded 
even unto death. Well might David exclaim : 
"In Thy majesty ride prosperously because of 
truth, and meekness, and righteousness, and Thy 
right hand shall teach thee terrible things. 
Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the King^s 
enemies; whereby the people fall under thee." 
When true repentance and godly sorrow for sin 
have finished their work, and there is a turning 
from sin unto righteousness, then balm is found 
in Gilead, and a Physician there, who healeth 
the broken in heart, and bindeth up their 
wounds. For He that wounds, also heals. 

And "a crown was given unto Him" yea, 
"he hath on his vesture, and on his thigh a 
name written : King of Kings, and Lord of 
Lords," for of him it is declared: "a King shall 



i3 



reign in righteousness," and "of the increase of 
his government and peace, there shall be no end, 
upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, 
to order it, and to establish it with judgment and 
with justice from henceforth even forever. The 
zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." 
Therefore, he goeth "forth conquering and to 
conquer." u He must reign until he hath put 
all enemies under his feet," for "he which hath 
begun a good work in us, will perform it until 
the day of Jesus Christ," or perfect redemption. 

The opening of the ' [first seal" therefore, 
when understood as referring to the first day of 
the new creation, includes the proclamation of 
the acceptable year of the L,ord, the day of God's 
vengeance upon the sinful nature, the comforting 
of them that mourn, the giving of beauty for 
ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the gar- 
ment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isa. 
lxi : 1-3). Therefore, the soul is given to rejoice 
and be joyful in God, who clothes her with the 
garments of salvation, and covers her with a 
robe of righteousness. But "the end is not yet." 
' ' There remaineth yet very much land to be pos- 
sessed." But if we are truly faithful in this 
"day of small things," or beginnings, and take 
good care to have our loins girt about with 
Truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, 



have our feet shod with the preparation of the 
gospel of peace, and above all, take the shield 
of faith, with which we shall be able to quench 
all the fiery darts of the wicked ; put on the hel- 
met of salvation, and take the sword of the Spirit, 
which is the Word of God (Eph.vi: 14-17), thus 
equipped, we will be prepared whenever the 
L,ord may call us, to pass on into that which is 
next to be possessed. 



CHAPTER III. 



And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the 
second beast say : Come and see. And there went out an- 
other horse that was red ; and power was given to him that 
sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they 
should kill one another ; and there was given unto him a 
great sword. — Rev. vi : 3, 4. 



T the opening of the second seal we hear the 



same words spoken: 1 1 Come and see." 
When these words were heard at the opening of 
the first seal, they called upon us to forsake the 
world and sin, and follow after righteousness. 
Now, they call upon us to leave "the first prin- 
ciples of the doctrine of Christ," and "go on to 
perfection." As obedience to the call when first 
heard, involved the coming out, and cutting 
loose, from many near and dear associations, and 
earthly conditions; so every advancing step in 
the spiritual life, requires a distinct and peculiar 
separation, which at first brings trial, rather than 
comfort. But the soul that truly hungers and 
thirsts after righteousness, will not "draw back" 
from any fiery test, but pressing on Godward 



The Second Seal. 




i6 



will exclaim : "My soul thirsteth after Thee as 
a thirsty land." And because of this intense 
desire, the soul will be ready to obey the injunc- 
tion : "Get thee out from thy country, and from 
thy kindred, and from thy father's house, into a 
land which I will show thee," and by so doing, 
becomes a ''follower of them who through faith 
and patience inherit the promises;" and will 
come to know the Scripture fulfilled, where it 
says: "I have showed thee new things, even 
hidden things, which thou hast not known." If 
we are anxious to know whether any good thing 
can "come out of Nazareth (which means separ- 
ated or sanctified), we must ^Come and see." 
For "then shall ye know, if ye follow on to 
know." In these words, the way to "grow in 
grace, and in the knowledge of our L,ord and 
Savior Jesus Christ," is clearly set forth, and 
there is no other way set before us. 

The appearance of "another horse that was 
red" signifies, not only that war has been de- 
clared against the fleshly, or carnal nature, even 
unto its death, but also symbolizes "the Blood 
of the everlasting Covenant," which is to make 
us "perfect in every good work to do His will, 
working in us that which is well pleasing in His 
sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord." 

At the very opening of this seal, we "come" 



i7 



to "see" that "without holiness, no man shall 
see the L,ord," and when we are given to "see" 
this, then do we indeed discover that " power" 
has been 1 ' given to Him that sat thereon to take 
peace from the earth" for the earthly, or carnal 
nature trembleth, at the sight of our internal 
condition, which we are now given for the first 
time to "see." The very foundations seem to 
be removed, and we clearly see that, "they that 
are in the flesh cannot please God," and we cry 
with one of old (when under conviction for heart 
purity): "Create in me a clean heart, OGod; 
and renew a right spirit within me, wash me 
thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me 
from my sin," in order that I may "no longer 
live the rest of the time in the flesh to the lusts 
of men, but to the will of God," 

Before, however, peace can again be estab- 
lished, we must pass through an experience, sig- 
nified by the words: " That they should kill one 
aitother." For Saul (that is, asked for), must 
smite Amalek (that is, a str angler of the people, 
a grandson of Esau, who sold his birthright for a 
mess of pottage), and utterly destroy all that they 
have, and spare them not ; but slay both men 
and women, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, 
camel and ass." For the serpent-nature, and all 
its offspring, must be put to death. Michael 



i8 



and his angels fight against the dragon, and the 
dragon fights, and his angels, and the battle con- 
tinues until their place is not found any more in 
the soul (Rev. xii : 7, 8). For the accomplish- 
ment of this, u a great sword was given unto 
Him" who goeth forth "conquering and to 
conquer." It is no longer a bow, by which he 
may send the arrow of conviction, but " a great 
sword," even "the sword of the Spirit, which is 
the Word of God." "For the Word of God is 
quick and powerful, and sharper than any two- 
edged sword, piercing even to the dividing as- 
sunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and 
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and 
intents of the heart; neither is there any creature 
that is not manifest in his sight, but all things 
are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with 
whom we have to do." 

When the sword of the Spirit has done its 
Work in us (the work belonging to this plane of 
spiritual experience), and we have been "cir- 
cumcised with the circumcision made without 
hands, in putting off of the body of the sins of 
the flesh by the circumcision of Christ," then 
He grants unto us, "that we being delivered out 
of the hands of our enemies, might serve him 
without fear, in holiness and righteousness." 
For having died "indeed unto sin," we have 



!9 



been made "alive unto God." "Our old man is 
crucified with Him, that the body of sin might 
be destroyed." Therefore, He has strengthened 
the bars of our gates, maketh peace in our bor- 
ders, and filleth us with the finest (or fat) of the 
wheat (Psalm cxlvi: 13, 14). Thus we are en- 
abled to walk in the light, as He is in the light, 
having fellowship with him, and the blood of 
Jesus Christ his son, cleanseth us from all sin 
(1 John 1 : 7). 

The openings of Truth and Life on this 
plane of experience, are precious and deep, for 
the soul now walks in unclouded and uninter- 
rupted communion with God. But this is not 
our goal. It is simply one of the experiences 
on the road to "the mark for the prize," a way 
station. There is yet, much land to be possessed. 
May we be found ready to follow on, into that 
which He may show us, for the Voice will sooner 
or later be heard saying: "Go forward," or "Let 
us go hence." "When He putteth forth his 
own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep 
follow him, for they know his Voice." May we 
hold ourselves in a receptive and waiting atti- 
tude, with eye single to his glory, that whenso- 
ever He may call, we shall not only hear, but 
follow whithersoever He may lead us. 



CHAPTER IV. 



And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the 
third beast say : Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a 
black horse ; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances 
in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four 
beasts say : A measure of wheat for a penny, and three meas- 
ures of barley for a penny ; and see thou hurt not the oil 
and the wine. — Rev. vi : 5, 6. 



LL increase in spiritual Life and Light, is 



^ dependent upon obedience to the call of 
the heavenly Voice. If we would possess a 
deeper and fuller experience, we must ' ' Come 
and see" that is, move out of that we are now 
in, and forgetting those things which we leave be- 
hind, reach forth unto the higher possibilities, set 
before us, and thus, "press toward the mark 
for the prize." After the marked deliverances 
from sin, and all manner of uncleanness, ex- 
perienced under the opening of the second seal, 
we are ready to conclude that further progress 
in "the way of holiness," will but add to our 
measure of "joy and peace;" that sorrow, hun- 
ger, and darkness, have forever passed away ; 



The Third Seal. 




21 



that the light which now shine th on our path- 
way, will shine more and more, and our u cup 
of blessing" not only continue full, but run 
over, with an abundance of heavenly consolation. 
But advancing steps, bring to pass far different 
results; for as we "follow on to know" the 
Lord, and "come" to know "the third seal" 
opened, we are given to "see" that the way to 
perfection — the perfect stature — does not consist 
in praises, glorifications, and delectations, but in 
privations, abandonments, sufferings, and self- 
abnegation. 

At the very opening of this seal, "a black 
horse" appears, implying that a season of dark- 
ness and famine is at hand, and the beholder is 
ready to exclaim : "When I waited for the light, 
there came darkness;" "if one look unto the 
land, behold darkness and distress, and the light 
is darkened in the heaven thereof." They are 
brought into fellowship with Abram, when "an 
horror of great darkness fell upon him." Hav- 
ing offered our morning oblation, the hour for 
the evening sacrifice approacheth. Having stood 
with Christ on Tabor, in the excellent glory, it 
is now time to share with him in the dark expe- 
riences of Gethsemane. For before we can 
arrive at "the measure of the stature of the ful- 
ness of Christ," we must drink of his cup, and 



22 



be baptized with his baptism. For He is "the 
way." It is impossible to know Him in the 
power of his resurrection, until we have pre- 
viously known him in the fellowship of his suf- 
ferings, and been made conformable to his death 
(Phi. iii : 10). 

While the perfect or completed death may 
not be experienced under the opening of this 
seal, it is nevertheless a season of preparation for 
"the death;" and may well be called: "The 
valley of the shadow of death," for during the 
unfoldings of this dispensation, we are given to 
see that a baptism — a being planted in the like- 
ness of His death — awaits us ; and we begin to 
groan in spirit, and become straitened till it be 
accomplished (Luke xii 50). 

"A pair of balances in his hand." The 
word zngos^ here rendered: "balances" is some- 
times rendered : yoke ; and it is at this stage of 
experience we become Christ's yoke- fellow, and 
learn experience by the things which we suffer 
(Hebrews v: 8). The "Balances" denote a 
time of trial and testing ; that we are to be 
weighed in the "balances" of the Sanctuary, 
and well for us, if, after being so weighed, we 
shall not be found wanting (Daniel v: 27). 
At this stage, we are obliged to eat and drink by 
weight, or measurement, for the words are ful- 



23 



filled: "Behold, I will break the staff of bread 
in Jerusalem, and they shall eat bread by weight, 
and with care, and shall drink water by measure, 
and with astonishment." Bread and water may 
be sure, but even these, are no longer given in 
abundance, but measured out, as it were, spar- 
ingly to us. As Jesus, after being baptized with 
the Holy Spirit, was led into a barren place, to 
be tempted of the devil, and through his fasting- 
experienced hunger, so we, following in his steps, 
will know deep spiritual hunger, because of the 
scarcity of the pure and unadulterated Word of 
Life. Therefore, "think it not strange concern- 
ing the fiery trial which is to try you, as though 
some strange thing happened unto you ; but re- 
joice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's 
sufferings." "For the time is come, when 
judgment must begin at the house of God," 
"whose house are we." May we be prepared 
to cry : "Let Him weigh me in the balances of 
Justice." For all his judgments are just and 
true. He only chastens, that we may become 
partakers of his holiness. 

' ■ A measure of wheat for a penny, a?zd three 
measures of barley for a penny " denotes scarcity 
of food. "It came to pass in the days when the 
judges judged, that there was famine in the 
land." So, this being a time of judgment and 



24 

impoverishment of the earthly nature, those who 
at one time, thought themselves rich, increased 
with goods, and in need of nothing (Rev. iii: 17), 
are now compelled to cry: "Bow down thine 
ear, O Lord, hear me, for / am poor and needy. ' 1 
For it is a time of spiritual stripping, rather than 
adorning; of naked faith; rather than sensible 
fervors. A time when u He must increase, but 
/(or self) must decrease." 

On a former plane of experience, we simply 
asked, and received ; "without money, and with- 
out price;" but now, whatever we obtain, must 
(seemingly at least) be earned by the sweat of our 
face (Gen. iii : 19). A penny, was a high price 
for a single measure of wheat, it was the amount 
of a whole day's wages. In times of plenty, a 
penny, would purchase from sixteen to twenty 
measures. It is true, we may purchase three 
times as much barley with our penny, or day's 
labor, and the temptation to the hungry soul, will 
be, to take more of a thing inferior, rather than 
pay the price demanded for the superior food. 
But the truly enlightened soul, will be after qual- 
ity rather than quantity, and they cannot be sat- 
isfied with anything less than "the finest of 
the wheat. ' ' 

But during all these trials and tribulations, 
the things which are of God cannot be hurt. 



25 



"Every plant that my Father hath not planted, 
shall be rooted up. ' ' But all that has been be- 
gotten of him, shall endure to the end. There- 
fore, the words are spoken: " See that thou hurt 
not the oil and the wine." Oil, here signifies 
the unction of the Holy Spirit, that which sanc- 
tifies. Wine, that revelation of spiritual Truth, 
which makes glad the heart. The soul is not to 
be robbed either of that which preserves it in 
holiness, or that which causes it to rejoice in the 
Truth. For in all our trials, there is an oppo- 
site undercurrent expressed in the words of the 
Apostle: "as dying, and, behold, we live; as 
chastened, and not killed ; as sorrowful, yet al- 
ways rejoicing ; as poor, yet making many rich ; 
as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." 
For no evil can hurt the true wine of the Spirit 
which maketh glad the heart of man; or the oil 
of the Spirit which maketh his face to shine. 
God hath set a bound that the waters of trial 
may not pass over ; that they turn not again to 
cover the earth. Therefore, though we are 
called to suffer spiritual afflictions, necessities, 
distresses, stripes, tumults, watchings and fast- 
ings, let us remember that these are among the 
all things that work together for our good. 
"See that ye be not troubled ; for all these things 
must come to pass, but the end is not yet." 



CHAPTER V. 



And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the 
voice of the fourth beast say : Come and see. And I looked, 
and behold a pale horse : and he that sat on him was Death, 
and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto 
them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, 
and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the 
earth. — Rev. vi : 7, 8. 



GAIN, the call is heard: ".Come and see;" 



^ x and, as ' ' the called of the Lord, ' ' press for- 
ward, in the desire to apprehend all that for 
which they have been apprehended by Christ 
Jesus, with an eye single to his glory; a further 
unfolding of Truth is made known. As they 
move on in "the Way," they ' Behold a pale 
horse; and his name that sits tipon him is 
Death. ' It is true, there have been experiences 
already passed through, that might well be ex- 
pressed by the term, "in deaths oft;" but the to- 
kens that now appear give promise, that there 
"shall be great tribulation, such as was not since 
the beginning .... to this time." That a 
more penetrating, and far reaching death of self, 



The Fourth Seal. 




27 



involving thought, will, and action, than has 
heretofore been known approacheth, the soul 
cannot question. Very soon, there begins to be a 
season of deepest searching, proving, and trying 
of the reins, even as it is written : "It shall come 
to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem 
with candles. " For the searching light of God's 
Truth, must be known in everything, and upon 
every part of man's nature ; even that which has 
been regarded as most sacred, must come to the 
bar of judgment, as well as that which has been 
wrong, or questionable. For, the Spirit search- 
eth all things; yea, not only the deep things of 
God, for our enlightenment; but also the hidden 
things of our inmost nature; that it may be made 
manifest whether they are wrought in, and of 
God, or by some other power. 

Not until considerable advancement has 
been made in the Christ-life, and we are walk- 
ing in the light of spiritual illumination, do we 
come to prove that "the spirit of a man is the 
candle of the Lord, which searcheth all the hid- 
den things of the bowels, i. e. , the hidden parts." 
For ere we can truly know what it means to 
have "truth in the inward parts," and "the hid- 
den parts to know wisdom," we must have 
uttered the cry: "Search me, O God, and know 
my heart, try me and know my thoughts, and 



28 



see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead 
me in the way everlasting." Nor will we be 
prepared to say: "0 Lord, thou hast searched 
me, and known me," in anything like a full com- 
prehension of all that is involved in the word 
searched, until we have passed through, and ex- 
perienced an inward fulfillment of Heb. xi : 27: 
"It is appointed unto man once to die, but after 
this the judgment." For death and hell, must 
deliver up to judgment the dead which are in 
them (Rev. xx : 13). And we read that " Hell 
followed with him," whose name was Death. 

Before we can be raised up in the likeness of 
Jesus' resurrection, we must first be planted in 
the likeness of his death, and be brought to real- 
ize with him, what is meant when the Scripture 
declares : "The sorrows of death compassed me, 
and the powers of hell gat hold upon me. " " For 
Thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst 
of the seas : and the floods compassed me about ; 
all thy billows, and thy waves, passed over me. 
Then I said : I am cast out of thy sight : 
yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. 
The w T aters compassed me about, even to the 
soul ; the depth closed me round about, the 
weeds were wrapped about my head. I went 
down to the bottoms of the mountains ; the earth 
with her bars was about me for ever: vet hast 



2 9 



thou brought up my life from corruption." For 
our faith must be put to the very severest test, 
and we must get the victory that will enable us 
in full confidence to exclaim: "Thou wilt not 
leave my soul in hell, nor suffer thine holy one to 
see corruption." But all who are counted worthy 
to participate in Christ's resurrection, and to as- 
cend with him into the "heavenly places," must 
needs experience a fulfilling of Eph. iv : 9, "Now 
that he ascended, what is it but that he also de- 
scended first into the lower parts of the earth." 

It is further declared, that "power iv as given 
unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to 
kill with sword, and with hunger, and with 
death, and with beasts of the earth." It will be 
helpful, to remember the words of our Lord to 
his captors : "Ye would have no power against 
me, except it were given you from above," and 
from them understand, that the " power" above 
mentioned, as given to " Death" and "Hell," is 
"given" from above, and that while the experi- 
ences passed through, under the exercise of this 
power do not seem joyous, but grievous ; and 
hard to be endured, being ofttimes violent, and 
seemingly very cruel, leading us at times to cry: 
"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" 
Yet, they are nevertheless, God's ministering 
servants, whose mission is, to throughly purge 



3o 

his floor, gather the wheat into his garner, and 
burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Luke 
iii : 17), For the u sword" will only slay that, 
which 4 ' is of the earth, earthy." The" hunger" 
shall only starve that, which will not feed on the 
Heavenly Bread. The "death" can only sting, 
and destroy that, which is Sin's offspring. The 
u beasts" will only tear in pieces, and devour 
that, which is of the beastly, or wild nature in us. 

This is the way, God has marked out for us, 
and where we may find the imprint of the Mas- 
ter's feet. After He has tried us, we shall come 
forth as gold, and then, we shall realize, that the 
trial of our faith has been much more precious 
to us, than of gold that perisheth, though it be 
tried in the fire, for it will be found unto our 
praise, and honor, and glory, at the appearing of 
Jesus Christ ( 1 Pet. i : 7), 



CHAPTER VI. 

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the 
altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, 
and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with 
a loud voice, saying : How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost 
thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on 
the earth ? And white robes were given unto every one of 
them ; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet 
for a little season, until their fellow servants also, and their 
brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be ful- 
filled. — Rev. vi: 9, 10, 11. 

The Fifth Seal. 

-npHE call: " Come and see" heard when the 
■ previous seals were opened, is no longer 
given, being now unnecessary, for the faithful 
and true disciple has learned (so as to ever after 
remember it), by the experiences already passed 
through, that only by following on to know — 
pressing toward the mark for the prize — can we 
ever reach an "exact knowledge of His will," 
and "the wealth of that full assurance of the un- 
derstanding," necessary "to an exact knowledge 
of the secret of God, in which are stored all the 
treasures of wisdom and knowledge." 

Every true follower of Jesus, must sooner or 



32 



later reach the "altar" of sacrifice. For "the 
disciple, is not above his Master ; but every one 
shall be perfected as his Master, " hence we must 
be "made conformable unto His death," who 
"resisted unto blood, striving against sin," and 
"became obedient unto death, even the death 
of the cross," "that through death, he might 
destroy him that hath the power of death." 

In each, and every stage of spiritual life we 
must experience a conception, birth, growth, ma- 
turity, and death ; for only as we die unto the 
old, can we enter upon the new. Hence, when 
we come to stand in that phase of experience, 
signified by the opening of the fifth sea/, the 
force and depth of the expression: "In deaths 
oft, " will be understood as never before. For we 
then see (with a singleness of eye, that penetrates 
to the very ends of our earthly nature), that "the 
least and last remains" of all that partakes of 
the image or nature of "the first man," who "is 
of the earth, earthy" must utterly perish, before 
"the second man," "the Lord from heaven," can 
possess and fill our whole life. The earthly must 
be dethroned, ere the spiritual can be enthroned. 
The "living soul" — the first Adam — must fall 
into the ground and perish, before the "quick- 
ening Spirit" — the second Adam — can be truly, 
glorified In us. 



33 



Under the opening of this seal, we have 
fellowship with all those who have been faithful 
unto death; for the souls now seen "under the 
altar" once laid upon it, as offerings unto God. 
For all who present their bodies as living sac- 
rifices unto God, and continue faithful to their 
vow of consecration, will come to know what it 
means, to be ' 4 slain for the word of God, and for 
the testimony which they held" For such, will 
neither worship the beast, nor his image, nor re- 
ceive his mark upon their foreheads, or in their 
hands (Rev. xx : 4). And, although the Holy 
Spirit witnesses to such, that bonds and afflic- 
tions await them (Acts xx : 23), yea, even death 
itself, they still follow on, in the path of perfect 
obedience to the Divine Will ; for none of these 
things can move a loyal soul out of God's ap- 
pointed way, neither do they count their life 
dear unto themselves, but constantly seek, to so 
witness to the Truth, as to be able say with one 
of old : " I have not shunned to declare . . . the 
whole counsel of God." But the "testimony" 
they give, is "not in the words which man's wis- 
dom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teach- 
eth,"for u he that is sent of God, speaketh the 
words of God, " yea, that Word which is the sword 
of the Spirit, that is quick and powerful, and 
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even 



34 



to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of 
the joints and marrow; and being a sure discerner 
of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb. iv : 
12), it bringeth to light, "the hidden things of 
darkness," and ever witnesseth against all man- 
ner of unrighteousness. 

When we are brought to see, that judgment 
must begin at the house of God (1 Pet. iv: 17), 
and are prepared to obey the injunction: "Cry 
aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, 
and show my people their transgressions, and the 
house of Jacob their sins," we will then find our- 
selves in the midst of that Jerusalem, which ever 
kills the Lord's prophets, and stones them which 
are sent unto her (Matt, xxiii : 37). But "bles- 
sed are the dead, who" thus "die in the Lord," 
for they not only rest from their labors, and their 
works follow them, but a crown of Life awaits 
them. But the day of crowning is not yet, for 
the present is a time of seeming helplessness, a 
season, when our heavenly Father, appears to 
care but little for us, or our circumstances ; hav- 
ing lost our life in witnessing to the Truth, it 
appears as if God is disenclined to vindicate us. 
In our humiliation our judgment is taken away, 
and we are ready to cry: "My God, my God, 
why hast thou forsaken me?" The enemy's 
voice is heard, crying: "Aha! aha! where is now 



35 



your God, in which you trusted?" Those who 
discern only our outward condition of helpless- 
ness and need, are ready to point their finger at 
us,- and declare that our experience is the result 
of some fault, or sin, on our part. We are in- 
deed esteemed, " stricken, and smitten of God 
with none ready to pity, but all seek to hide 
themselves from us. 

Thus are we called upon to endure a great 
fight of afflictions ; and become a gazing-stock, 
both by reproaches and afflictions, until we cry 
in words of bitter agony : ' ^How long, O Lord, 
holy and true, dost thou not avenge our blood on 
them that dwell on the earth?" Now, is our 
opportunity for the perfecting of patience, and 
development of that love, which suffers long and 
is kind; for until we can say: "Father, forgive 
them, they know not what they do," we have 
not yet fully put on Christ. 

But "the end is not yet." His work in us, 
and through us, is not fully accomplished. We 
must help to "fill up that which is behind of the 
afflictions of Christ for his body's sake, which is 
the church." For only as death is permitted to 
work in us, can life be brought forth through us 
in others ; and the sacrificial offering up of our 
life must go on, until our ^fellow servants, and 
brethren," have also yielded their lives, on the 



36 



"altar" of their faith, for we now learn that the 
Lord's Body has many members, and that there 
is a sense, in which ' ' the first fruits unto God 
and to the Lamb" cannot be perfected, until the 
other members are also sealed. Therefore, we 
must "rest" or wait for a little season longer, 
u for the elect's sake;" yet the "white robes" 
are given unto us, "white as snow, so that no 
fuller on earth can white them." And inas- 
much as the witness of the Spirit, to both out- 
ward and inward purity, is unmistakably given; 
therefore, the soul exclaims in restful aban- 
donment: "All the days of my appointed time, 
will I wait, till my change comes." 



CHAPTER VII. 



And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo, 
there was a great earthquake ; and the sun became black as 
sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood ; and the 
stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree casteth 
her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. — 
Rev. vi : 12, 13. 



S "earthquakes in divers places," were to be 



among the signs of our Lord's coming, and 
the end of the world (Matt, xxiv : 7-24), so, who- 
soever dieth wholly unto the spirit of the world, 
will witness the coming to an end (in a spiritual 
sense), of the world. And thus, become one of 
those "upon whom the ends of the world are 
come. ' ' 

At the opening of the sixth seal, there is a 
"great earthquake '," "such as was not seen 
since men were upon the earth/' that is, it sur- 
passes any the soul has yet witnessed. And in the 
midst of the confusion, a Voice is heard saying : 
"O earth, earth, earth, hear the Word of the 
Lord." Whose Voice, "shook the earth, which 
Voice, they which heard entreated, that it should 



The Sixth Seal. 




38 



not be spoken unto them anymore, for they could 
not endure that which it commanded." But 
while the soul here "exceedingly fears and 
quakes" it realizes, that it must needs endure 
all that is "commanded" by the Heavenly Voice, 
if it would attain unto "the stature of the ful- 
ness of Christ." Here, the words of the Psalm- 
ist, express its own interior condition: "Thou 
hast made the earth to tremble, thou hast broken 
it: heal the breeches thereof; for it shaketh. 
Thou hast shewed thy people hard things, thou 
hast made us to drink the wine of astonish- 
ment." There is strong temptation to cry: 
"Let this cup pass from me." "Save me from 
this hour. 1 ' But the light of the Spirit's illumi- 
nation, gives the soul to see, that all of the pre- 
vious dealings of God with it, have been for the 
purpose of bringing it to this very hour, there- 
fore, it dares not ask for a sweeter cup, or the 
declaration of smoother things ; for it now under- 
stands, that if the uttermost parts of its earthly 
nature are to be given unto Christ for a possess- 
ion (Psa. ii : 8), then, it dare not refuse to hear 
Him who now speaks to it from heaven ; for his 
Voice only shaketh the earth, in order that the 
shakable things may be removed, and that those 
only which cannot be shaken may remain, and 
become confirmed, and the soul thus be brought 



39 



to possess a kingdom which cannot be moved 
(Heb. xii : 27, 28). 

But not only is the saying here fulfilled : 
"The earth is utterly broken, the earth is moved 
exceedingly," but when "the whole land is 
spoiled," and the soul can say with Jeremiah: 
"I beheld the earth, and lo, it was without form 
and void ;" then shall it also realize the remain- 
der of his statement to be fulfilled: "The heav- 
ens and they had no light." For "the sun. be- 
came black as sackcloth." It is a terrible trial, 
and painful beyond all expression, when the 
soul, having forsaken all other sources of en- 
lightenment (that it may see light, only in His 
light), experiences the hiding of His face ; no 
wonder the cry ascends, out of the abyss of dark- 
ness which envelops the soul: "My God, my 
God, why hast thou forsaken me?" But the 
Scripture is here fulfilled: "And it was about 
the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all 
the earth." 

There is also, more or less obscuration of 
the mind, for the soul is not only deprived of the 
light and comfort that arises from the shining of 
the "Sun of Righteousness," but "the moon" 
also (the fainter light of reason), no longer affords 
any aid, for as the outward moon, when seen 
through fogs and vapors, appears red "as blood" 



40 



so the light of reason now fails to give its wonted 
help, for if it shines at all, it shines but dimly, 
and the seeing is but u as through a glass dark- 
ly," and the soul is plunged into experiences, 
where it is "afflicted, tossed with tempest, and 
not comforted." It is, therefore, ready to cry 
with one of old: "Hast thou not poured me 
out, like milk, and curdled me like cheese ? If 
I be wicked, woe unto me ; and if I be righteous, 
yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of con- 
fusion ; therefore see thou mine affliction ; for it 
increaseth." 

If the soul here turns towards those whom 
Christ designates as "the light of the world" — 
they of whom it is said "they shall shine as the 
stars" — whose counsel and experience have 
been in the past a stay and comfort, it finds that 
they have no longer any light to shed upon its 
pathway, they do not understand its experiences, 
and their attempt to render help, only makes the 
soul's " confusion worse confounded. " " The stars 
of heaven " have indeed fallen unto the earth. 

At this juncture, ' 1 vain is the help of man, \ ' 
the words they utter, are but as the falling of 
"untimely figs" for they are not words in sea- 
son. The graces also of the Spirit (which have 
been wrought in the soul), whose development 
has been watched and sought after with untiring 



4i 



devotion, and which were the "stars" in its 
"crown of rejoicing," seem to have now "fallen 
unto the earth." The long cherished desire of 
the soul, to bring forth the inward fruits of the 
Spirit, to perfect manifestation in its outward 
life, seems doomed to sudden disappointment, for 
the "mighty wind" with which it is now shaken, 
has already dashed some of its highest expecta- 
tions to the earth. Only in after time, will it dis- 
cover, that it really lost nothing, but that which 
was "untimely." The coming of that which is 
perfect, means the doing away of that which is in 
part. But if the house has been built upon 
the Rock, the wind may blow, and storms beat 
against it, but it shall not fall, for its builder 
and maker is God, and he maketh it to stand. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

The heaven departed as a scroll . . . every mountain 
and island were moved out of their places. Men .... hid 
themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains ; 
and said to the mountains and rocks : Fall 011 us, and hide us 
from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the 
wrath of the Lamb : After these things I saw four angels 
standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four 
winds of the earth. And I saw another angel . . . having 
the seal of the living God. After this I beheld, and lo, a 
great multitude which no man could number . . . stood be- 
fore the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white 
robes, and palms in their hands. And one of the elders 
.... said to me : These .... came out of great tribula- 
tion, and have washed their robes, and made them white in 
the blood of the Lamb. .... Therefore are they before the 
throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple. 
They shall hunger no more ; neither thirst any more, neither 
shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb 
. . . shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living foun- 
tains of waters ; and God shall wipe away all tears from their 
eyes. — Rev. vi : 14-17. vii : 1-17. 

The Sixth Seal (Continued). 

T TNDBR the opening of this sixth seal, a series 
^ of sudden and unexpected changes, attend 
the soul's progress. These occur not only on 
the earthly, or lower plane of its experience, but 



43 



also in the heavenly, or higher. Various are the 
conceptions, understandings, and forms of belief 
in regard to Divine Truth, that here pass away, 
like unto a " scroll when it is rolled together." 
For, the anointing which teacheth of all things 
(i Jno. ii : 27), now maketh manifest; that much 
which has, up to this time, been looked upon as 
of heavenly origin and revelation, is but the off- 
spring of fallible men— man's doctrines, and tra- 
ditions — and the Spirit-opened eye sees clearly, 
that through these traditions of men, the Word 
of God has been made of none effect; and plainly 
discerns that "the Counsel of God," given for the 
enlightenment of man, has been grievously dark- 
ened by the words of the men, who have occupied 
the position of Bible interpreters. For the soul 
now discovers, that they have spoken according 
to that which man's wisdom teacheth, instead of 
in the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth. It 
also sees how they erred, by comparing spiritual 
things with natural, instead of spiritual (1 Cor. 
ii : 13). For every soul that does the Father's 
will shall know, whether the doctrines it hears 
taught are of God, or of men (Jno. vii : 17). On 
this plane, the soul loses all shadows of Truth, 
and is brought to "inherit Substance." 

Now, this Scripture is to be fulfilled : "Yet 
once more I shake not the earth only, but also 



44 



heaven, and this word, yet once more, signifieth 
the removing of those things that are shaken, as 
of things that are made, that those things which 
cannot be shaken may remain." 

u Every mountain and island were moved 
out of their places." This is a transitional stage, 
in which, there is a complete overturning and 
transformation. That which is old is vanishing, 
that which is new appearing. That which we 
thought as immovable as the mountains, is now 
moving away. It is a period of unsettledness. 

In the midst of this sea of confusion, whose 
waves toss "to and fro," there does not appear 
so much as an island, on which the soul can plant 
its feet; and those towering forms of doctrine, in 
whose heights the soul was accustomed to betake 
itself in times of trial and uncertainity, are no 
longer found in their accustomed places. In fact, 
all that the soul has previously attained, it now 
seems to be stripped of, and feels itself to be "na- 
ked, poor, despised, forsaken." 

Here, everything within the soul, that is of 
an earthly nature, whether it be high or low, 
bond or free, weak or strong, seeks to ' ' hide 1 ' it- 
self u from the face of Him that sitteth on the 
throne," for "the wrath of the Lamb," the burn- 
ing fire of Divine Love, is enkindled against all 
that bears the image of the fallen Adam. But 



45 



the soul finds comfort in the assurance that "the 
night is far spent, the day is at hand," and con- 
tinues to humble itself in the presence of the Lord, 
believing, that in due time, He will raise it up. 
For everything that exalteth itself against the 
knowledge of God must be abased — the exalted 
imagination and fleshly reasoning cast down, 
and every thought brought into captivity to the 
obedience of Christ (2 Cor. x : 5). When this 
work has been perfectly wrought, then shall it 
be brought to pass (in the inner experience), that 
"Death is swallowed up in victory," for to every 
soul that is faithful unto death, a crown of life 
is given (Rev. ii : 10). Because whensoever 
Christ shall appear as the true and only life of 
the soul, then shall the soul appear with him in 
glory (Col. iii : 4). For having been put to death 
in the flesh, it shall surely be quickened in the 
spirit. 

The soul having taken heed unto the sure 
word of prophecy, and conformed itself to the re- 
vealed will of God, regardless of the cost; has at 
length reached the end of its spiritual night, for 
the day of deliverence which shall usher it into 
the glorious liberty of the children of God, is now 
about to dawn, the Day-star, to arise in the soul. 

It now beholds lt 'four angels" " standing on 
the four corners of the earth, holding the four 



4 6 



winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow 
on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree;" 
and is assured that the work of devastation and 
destruction is at an end, for it immediately after 
beholds Kk another angel .... having the seal of 
the living God" and forbidding- the angels to do 
any hurt till he had sealed the servants of God 
in their foreheads. Now is the Scripture fulfill- 
ed : "Bxcept those days be shortened, there 
should no flesh be saved ; but for the elect's sake 
those days shall be shortened." 

This sealing in the forehead, endows the 
sealed one with a power of perception that pierces 
through all veils, and penetrates into the deep 
and hidden mysteries of the kingdom ; and the 
things which are freely given of God, are clearly 
seen and known. There is also an understand- 
ing of our Lord's saying: "Other sheep have I 
which are not of this fold, them also I must 
bring;" for the soul now understands, that the 
"kingdom of heaven" is not obtained by believ- 
ing a form of words, or subscribing to a written 
creed, but by righteousness of life ; and that "in 
every nation (whether Christian, or Heathen), he 
that feareth God (as he apprehends Him), and 
worketh righteousness (according to the Law of 
the Lord written on the tables of his heart), is 
accepted of Him." Hence, it beholds "a great 



47 



multitude which no man could number, of all 
nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues," 
standing before God, clad in -white raiment, 
and bearing palms of victory; and each of them 
ascribing all glory, wisdom, honor, and thanks- 
giving unto our God. 

The soul, having passed through the six 
days in which man worketh, and proved faithful 
in all the Lord's requirings, is now prepared for 
an entrance into the "Sabbath of Rest," which 
is at hand. Having passed through " great trib- 
ulation^ been "crucified with Christ," and 
washed its robes (its every act), "z>z the blood 
of the Lamb" or Life of Jesus, made manifest in 
its mortal flesh (2 Cor. iv: 11), therefore, because 
of this dying indeed unto sin, and walking in 
newness of life (Rom. vi : 4, 11), it is now en- 
abled to stand before the throne of God, and 
serve him with perfect devotion, both day and 
night, in His temple (its redeemed body) ; while 
He that sitteth upon the throne of its heart, and 
rules in all its life, never leaves or forsakes it. 

Such a soul can ^hunger no more; neither 
thirst any more" for its meat is to do the will of 
the Father, and to finish his work (Jno. iv : 34). 
It eats the flesh, and drinks the blood of the Son 
of Man (Jno. vi : 53), and finds these a satisfying 
portion. Neither does " the sun light on" it, for 



4 8 



it no longer has any need of the light of the sun, 
for the glory of God, and the Lamb enlighten it; 
nor does heat oppress it, for it rests beneath the 
shadow of a great Rock. Now, the Lamb leads 
unto "living fountains of waters," where the 
streams of Truth are ever flowing ; and the Fa- 
ther wipes " away all tears." Thus, the ran- 
somed of the Lord return, and come to Zion, with 
songs, and everlasting joy upon their head, and 
obtaining joy and gladness, sorrow and sighing 
flee away (Isa. xxxv : 10). 



CHAPTER IX. 



And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was 
silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I 
saw the seven angels which stood before God ; and to them 
were given seven trumpets. And another angel came and 
stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was 
given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with 
the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was 
before the throne. And the smoke of the incense .... 
with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God .... 
And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the 
altar, and cast it into the earth. — Rev. viii : 1-5. 



HEN the seventh seal is opened, there is 



v * ^silence in heaven about the space of half 
an hour." The length of time mentioned, sig- 
nifies, that the silence, is but a prelude, or prepa- 
ration, for the still deeper revelations which are 
soon to follow. Each advancing stage, of the 
soul's experience in the work of its regeneration, 
brings it into a deeper measure of quietness be- 
fore the Lord. And finally, it learns, that per- 
fect silence, or stillness, is the only condition 
in which the revelation of God can be known. 
When it realizes this, and knows that "the Lord 



The Seventh Seal. 




5° 

is in his holy temple" ("ye are the temple of 
God"), it decrees that all the earth (its earthly 
nature), must "keep silence before //zV/z." By 
so doing, it reaches an experience, where it list- 
ens for, and pays heed to the Voice of God only. 
Thus, it is delivered both from the "confusion," 
and "the strife of tongues." 

The souls above described, are the "sheep," 
who hear and obey the Shepherd's voice, "but a 
stranger will they not follow," for they now per- 
ceive, that all who came before Him, were truly 
"thieves and robbers," and came not, "but for 
to steal, and to kill, and to destroy;" and to ac- 
complish their purpose they lie in wait on every 
side, and "if it were possible, they would deceive 
the very elect." 

The richest fruitage of Divine Love, and 
Wisdom, can only be gathered in the silence of 
all flesh, and this condition of perfect quietude, 
is not attainable, until every form of creaturely 
activity, as well as all inordinate desires, have 
been hushed in death on the cross, for not until 
the sentence of death has passed upon all flesh, 
can unbroken silence reign throughout spirit, 
soul, and body. 

For no soul can fully enter into this sev- 
enth-d.a.y experience, or "Sabbath of Rest," until it 
utterly ceases from all its own works. Only thus 



5i 



can it come to know the fulfilling of this Script- 
ure: "If thou return, then will I bring thee 
again, and thou shalt stand before me : if thou 
take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt 
be as my mouth." 

Then, will the soul be prepared to sound the 
^trumpet" of the Lord, and in doing so, give no 
uncertain sound ; for the messages it will then 
deliver, will not be its own words, but the words 
of Him, whose mouthpiece it is. Thus will the 
soul have fellowship with the Apostle in the ex- 
perience he expressed, when he wrote: "As 
though God did beseech you, by us." And so, 
it will speak "as one having authority, and not 
as a scribe. " 

For the performances of such a soul, will be 
simply the out- working, of that which God has 
previously ^-wrought ; for now, God worketh in 
it both to will, and to do, of his good pleasure. 
Consequently, whoever receives such an one, 
receives not him, but the Father who sends him 
(Mark ix : 37). Here the soul has perfect fellow- 
ship with Him who declared: "The Son can do 
nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father 
do, for what things soever he doeth, these doeth 
the son likewise." 

Therefore, on this plane of experience, all 
service is performed according to the pattern 



shown in the mount (Heb. viii : 5), and the 
mount of God, upon which the Commandments 
for the ordering of the soul's life are now given, 
is not outward, but inward. The tables on which 
they are written, are no longer of stone, but the 
fleshy tables of the heart (2 Cor. iii : 3), for the 
Law of the Lord, which is perfect (Psa. xix : 7), 
is "written, not with ink, but with the Spirit of 
the living God. " 

A "trumpet," in the hand of an angel, sig- 
nifies, an instrument, or means for promulgating 
the Truth, which is far reaching in its capacity. 
"Seven" is a number which denotes, completion, 
or fulness. As there are "seven trumpets" it 
signifies, that there is to be under the opening 
of this seal, a complete revelation, or disclosure 
of Divine Truth- — that all will now be made 
"naked and open," which has hitherto been cov- 
ered, and concealed. 

Here, the soulprays only in the Holy Ghost, 
or under Divine inspiration, for it is given to see 
that only the "inwrought prayer" is effectual. 
It has also learned, that the "sound of words," 
which are so needful in its intercourse with its 
fellow men, and which at an earlier stage of its 
religious experience were deemed so essential to 
its intercourse with the heavenly Father, are no 
longer absolutely necessary, for it enjoys a com- 



53 



munion and fellowship with the Infinite, both 
deep and continuous, which is beyond and with- 
out verbal utterance. It now discerns how true 
it is, that, " the Kingdom of God, is not in word, 
but in power." 

Here also, every desire and aspiration of the 
soul is laid upon " the Golden Altar" of God's 
perfect Will, and the soul's constant attitude, is 
well expressed by the words: "Not my will, but 
thine, O Lord, be done." This submission, is 
the ^incense" that mingles with every petition, 
and gives to them "a sweet-smelling savour," as 
they ascend "up before God" 

The vessels of its service, are no longer of 
wood, clay, iron, brass, or even of silver, but are 
of pure gold, which has been tried in the fire, and 
wrought into shape, by the fashioning hand 
of the Perfect Artisan. Having been endued 
with the "boldness, to enter into the holiest by 
the blood of Jesus, through a new and living- 
way, which he hath consecrated for us," and 
having passed "through the veil, that is to say, 
his flesh;" the soul now stands in "the Holiest 
of all" where the "golden Censer" "ark of the 
covenant," and "golden pot of manna," are to 
be found ; and the warmth of the soul's devotion, 
is born of the fire of Divine Love, which God has 
"shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost." 



54 



Thus the soul can truly say concerning all its ser- 
vices : "Of thine own, have I given thee." 

We read, that, "the angel took the censer y 
and filled it Zi'ith fire of the altar, and cast it 
into the earth." This signifies, that the fire of 
Divine Love, and light of Divine Truth, which 
the soul has received in its heavenly, or spiritual 
nature, is also to permeate and be known even 
unto the extremities of its earthly, or lowermost 
nature. For the work of redemption is not com- 
plete, until there are new earthly, as well as new 
heavenly conditions established in man. Here, 
the promise is to be fulfilled: "Behold, I make 
all things new" for at the sounding of the sev- 
enth trumpet, great voices are heard in heaven, 
savins;: "The kino-doms of this world, are be- 
come the kingdoms of our Lord, and his Christ ; 
and he shall reign forever. " 

There is much revealed unto the soul, in this 
stage of experience, which it has neither the pow- 
er, or permission to disclose. "The secret of the 
Lord is with them that fear him, and He will 
show them his covenant. M Xot having learned 
these deeper things from the lips of men, but by 
or through the anointing of the Holy Spirit giv- 
en to lead it into all Truth, the experienced soul 
well knows, that it cannot communicate them to 
others, for they must come to them directly from 



55 



the Spirit itself. Those who would see and un- 
derstand them, must seek and obtain, the Anoint- 
ing, which teacheth of all things, and is truth, 
and is no lie (i Jno. ii : 27). 

We are not permitted at this time, to touch 
upon the remaining wonders, all of which with- 
out doubt, have something to teach us concern- 
ing the soul's development into the likeness and 
image of God. But all may rest assured, that 
as they grow up into Christ, who is their living 
Head, and advance toward the stature of a per- 
fect man, these wonders will be opened to them, 
for the life of the Lamb as it is brought forth in 
us, will insure to us the possession of the "Key of 
David," which unlocks all mysteries, as we are 
prepared to receive them. 

"If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat 
the good of the Land. ' ' 



THE END. 



WORKS OH THE INTERIOR LilFE 

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